Download or read book Chasing Normal written by Craig Greiwe and published by Post Hill Press. This book was released on 2022-10-18 with total page 244 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: As a kid growing up in Indiana surrounded by cornfields and deep poverty, with two emotional terrorists for parents, all Craig Greiwe ever wanted was to be normal. In his youth, he lived under the stairs in Dickensian misery. Once he managed to make it to college, things got about as weird as might be expected for a teenager who grew up reading The 1978 World Book Encyclopedia for kicks. From an emotional breakdown at the top of a mountain at one school to setting off a chain of events that nearly blew apart Columbia Law School a few years after that, his life was anything but normal. Along the way, he found a long-distance foster mom 2,000 miles away; slept his way to success in Hollywood; had his heart broken; discovered secrets about the people who raised him; and was finally adopted by Norman-Rockwell-esque parents at the age of twenty-four. Chasing Normal is the story of a man who grew up trying to be like everyone else, only to realize that being yourself is the only way forward. His stories range from wild to painful and sometimes humorous, but ultimately, they are a journey about compassion, salvation, and eventually, joy. Chasing Normal stands out as a hopeful beacon for anyone who’s ever felt “other”—which is just about everyone. Like a lighthouse on a hill, this book offers direction to an illuminating place where we can learn to embrace ourselves, no matter how messy a life we lived.
Download or read book Chasing Normal written by Chrystal Caudill and published by Abbott Press. This book was released on 2011-12-20 with total page 347 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: When a girl falls in love with the manshe believes can give her the traditionallife she desires, she sacrifices everythingto make her dreams come true. Brad has it all. He is handsome, popular, and charismatic. Who could resist his many charms? In desperate pursuit of the normal life she believes Brad can give to her, she tries her best to be everything he wants a devoted wife, lover, and motherbut it is never enough. For a decade, she devotes every moment of every day to his happiness. Slowly, she realizes that in addition to the loss of her youth, she has also sacrificed much more to maintain the illusion of a perfect marriage. After drastically altering her life just to be near him, she starts to see through his gossamer-thin promises.But try as she might to hold her head up as evidence of Brads moral defects mounts, her sense of self weakens. Unaware of how deeply she is being damaged and how blatantly she has been deceived, she must make a choice. Will she abandon her fantasy of the traditional nuclear family so she can reclaim her long-forgotten self-worth? Or will she continue to languish at the hands of a toxic man? She is a simple girl who just wanted something better. And despite it all, her journey is one filled with surprisingly sharp humor, raw honesty and optimism.
Download or read book Chasing Normal written by T. L. Hoch and published by iUniverse. This book was released on 2012-02 with total page 291 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: High school sophomore Annie Smith is just hoping to live a normal life after she moves from Arkansas to the quiet little town of Reston, Texas. But it does not take long for her new friends to figure out that Annie is anything but normal. Annie's goal is to fly under the radar drawing as little attention to herself as possible. But she soon discovers that being normal does not always bring happiness. Melinda "Chip" Fullerton is a gifted athlete with two wishes-to be taller and to be on a good team for once. As she starts her junior year of high school, it looks like both her wishes will go unfulfilled-until Annie shows up. Immediately suspicious of Annie's baggy clothes and athletic abilities, Chip enlists Luke Slowinski, sports editor for the school newspaper, to do some undercover sleuth work that eventually reveals the truth: Annie is not who she appears to be. This is a story that illustrates the importance of building character as well as talent, Annie soon learns that a new beginning is all she needs to finally embrace her true self.
Download or read book Chasing Normal written by Tara Fuselli and published by iUniverse. This book was released on 2009-11-11 with total page 300 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: City girl Eve Whitting has given up on love. Years spent living the roller coaster life has left her feeling lost and fed up with men. But escaping the city for her small hometown wasnt supposed to bring her face-to-face with sexy neighbor Joel Powella man quite possibly sent from the godsor her mother wielding a book on Relationships and How to Have One. If Eve thought she had challenges before, she hasnt seen anything yet Charming cowboy Joel Powell has given up on peace and quiet. His life is already filled to the brim with complications from his divorce and the alluring, feisty Eve Whitting has plunked herself right in the middle of it. With one failed marriage under his belt, Joels warning bells are clanging, but theres something about Eve he just cant resist. While fighting for custody of his three-year-old son, Joel tries to temper his feelings for this woman who is fast becoming lodged in his heart. Faced with a burgeoning relationship that neither bargained for nor wanted, Eve and Joel must navigate through a minefield of broken dreams and broken hearts to find what true loveand true commitmentreally mean.
Download or read book Chasing Normal written by Beck Thompson and published by . This book was released on 2021-07-29 with total page 308 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Who could I become, if I gave myself a chance? That's the question Beck asked herself at the age of eighteen when an unknown future threatened to end her life, after years of sexual abuse by both her grandfathers and absent parents who did nothing to protect her. Leaving her to deal with the abuse completely on her own. Beck made a pact with herself to unlearn everything trauma taught her and relearn everything she could to become 'normal' like everybody else. Beck's intimate journey is full of heartache, of raw insight into the effects of childhood trauma, including multiple mental breakdowns. But it's also one where Beck refused to believe suffering was her only option. Beck's story shows us the road to recovery is not an easy one but worth every step to heal what was broken and live in peace and happiness. Foreward by Associate Professor, Dr Judith Howard, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane Australia. 'Every time I read Rebekah's story - I tear up! I am not one for doing this, as I have grown very resilient over the many years I have worked in this field of trauma-aware education. I have heard so many stories of harm done to people, young and older, and have met and known many of these people. What keeps me working so hard in this field, are people like Rebekah! Rebekah is the epitome of someone who I refer to in my work as becoming more and more "resolved" from the trauma she endured, as time goes by. This has not happened easily or without an extreme amount of endurance and hard work, but people like Rebekah are the evidence that - what we do and how we support our children and young people who have lived through complex trauma - particularly in education settings - is so very important! I teared up again when I read Rebekah 's manuscript for this book. I believe this is because I know the (mostly) resolved and adult Rebekah, a beautiful young woman who exhibits such strength and passion for caring for others. It sincerely hurts me to read about the vulnerable and victimised child Rebekah and the long-suffering younger adult, Rebekah. However, Rebekah has chosen to openly share with you, both the child and the younger adult Rebekah, in the hope that this will encourage others who have lived through complex childhood trauma, to fight for their healing and for all the goodies in life that they need and deserve - health, love, family, career, calm, happiness .... Rebekah is a courageous survivor of complex trauma- who is determined to prevent any intergenerational transmission of this harm by being a great (informed and responsive) mother. She is also someone who is determined to heal herself, and to be her best self, so that she can then support the healing of others. Her memoir is an admirable project - to do just that - to support healing in others. This project would not have come easily, as it is no small thing to recall the details of suffering and to analyse one's self and one's experiences to the degree that Rebekah has done. I feel so privileged to write this introduction to Rebekah's heartfelt story and I look forward to hearing of many more great chapters in Rebekah's life!' Editor, Kaye Kemp Book Polishing says 'I'm crying' and 'So powerful!' You'll have to read for yourself why so many people were deeply moved by Beck's personal journey...
Download or read book Chasing Normal written by Lisa Papademitriou and published by Disney-Hyperion. This book was released on 2009-06-16 with total page 208 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Mieka Baker just wants to be normal. It’s tough enough that her mom left a few years ago and that her artist dad decorates the house solely with “treasures” from the “vintage” store (read: all their furniture is made out of plastic) but it’s just too much when Mieka and her dad have to leave Boston to go to spend the summer with her sick grandmother in Texas—someone Mieka has never met. Grandma Baker isn’t just brutally honest, she’s brutal. She tells Mieka she’s fat, frumpy, and basically unwanted. It’s all too much to handle, especially when she has to stay with her Aunt Kate’s family. The most normal family ever. Aunt Kate stays at home with the kids (where IS Mieka’s mom anyway?), Uncle Dave wears a suit to work, cousin Mark is a genius and Greta—well, she’s Mieka’s age but that’s where the similarity ends. She’s blond, beautiful, fit, friendly, popular and practically perfect. But as the summer progresses and Mieka learns a thing or two about herself (hey, she can actually learn to enjoy herself at camp, even if it is Bible camp and she happens to be a bit chubbier than every other camper there) and her family members she realizes that there’s no such thing as normal. That even though she and her dad aren’t a conventional family and aren’t rich and don’t go to church they are incredibly lucky to have each other and to have love. And even the perfect kids seem to be chasing normal too.
Download or read book Cleft Heart written by Karl Schonborn and published by Createspace Independent Publishing Platform. This book was released on 2014-04-18 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Karl Schonborn's silver tongue is locked away for years by a birth defect that makes his speech unclear and his face asymmetrical. Bullies target him for this and even for being restricted from PE and sports. But with courage, humor, and his family's love, he overcomes shame, handicaps, and personal losses that might have defeated others. Skilled doctors, speech therapists, and his own determination allow him a shot at his dream of becoming a debate star and attending an elite college. However, after various successes Schonborn must deal with reverses in his love life and worse--unspeakable tragedy in his family. Somehow, he survives, even thrives. Spanning the WWII '40s, the conformist '50s, and the revolutionary '60s, Schonborn's coming-of-age story recounts, among other things, his friendship with a famous folksinger, conscientious-objection to the Vietnam War, and an amazing around-the-world odyssey. His story, like the stories of the speech-challenged Greek orator Demosthenes and British King George VI, will have you crying and cheering at the same time. "A poignant, heartfelt tale of endurance and hope. Schonborn's story is an inspiration to all who endure physical or mental health challenges and those who care about them." -Former U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry
Download or read book Chasing Redbird written by Sharon Creech and published by Harper Collins. This book was released on 2012-04-24 with total page 158 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: “Intriguing, delightful, and touching.” —School Library Journal (starred review) “Creech’s best yet.” —Publishers Weekly (starred review) It started out as an ordinary summer. But the minute thirteen-year-old Zinny discovered the old, overgrown trail that ran through the woods behind her family’s house, she realized that things were about to change. It was her chance to finally make people notice her, and to have a place she could call her very own. But more than that, Zinny knew that the trail somehow held the key to all kinds of questions. And that the only way to understand her family, her Aunt Jessie’s death, and herself, was to find out where it went. From Newbery Medal-winning author Sharon Creech comes a story of love, loss, and understanding, an intricately woven tale of a young girl who sets out in search of her place in the world—and discovers it in her own backyard. An ALA Best Book for Young Adults
Download or read book Chasing Normal written by T. L. Hoch and published by . This book was released on 2012-02 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: High school sophomore Annie Smith is just hoping to live a normal life after she moves from Arkansas to the quiet little town of Reston, Texas. But it does not take long for her new friends to figure out that Annie is anything but normal. Annie's goal is to fly under the radar drawing as little attention to herself as possible. But she soon discovers that being normal does not always bring happiness. Melinda "Chip" Fullerton is a gifted athlete with two wishes-to be taller and to be on a good team for once. As she starts her junior year of high school, it looks like both her wishes will go unfulfilled-until Annie shows up. Immediately suspicious of Annie's baggy clothes and athletic abilities, Chip enlists Luke Slowinski, sports editor for the school newspaper, to do some undercover sleuth work that eventually reveals the truth: Annie is not who she appears to be. This is a story that illustrates the importance of building character as well as talent, Annie soon learns that a new beginning is all she needs to finally embrace her true self.
Download or read book Chasing Normal written by Tara Fuselli and published by iUniverse. This book was released on 2009-11 with total page 302 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: City girl Eve Whitting has given up on love. Years spent living the roller coaster life has left her feeling lost and fed up with men. But escaping the city for her small hometown wasn't supposed to bring her face-to-face with sexy neighbor Joel Powell-a man quite possibly sent from the gods-or her mother wielding a book on Relationships and How to Have One. If Eve thought she had challenges before, she hasn't seen anything yet... Charming cowboy Joel Powell has given up on peace and quiet. His life is already filled to the brim with complications from his divorce and the alluring, feisty Eve Whitting has plunked herself right in the middle of it. With one failed marriage under his belt, Joel's warning bells are clanging, but there's something about Eve he just can't resist. While fighting for custody of his three-year-old son, Joel tries to temper his feelings for this woman who is fast becoming lodged in his heart. Faced with a burgeoning relationship that neither bargained for nor wanted, Eve and Joel must navigate through a minefield of broken dreams and broken hearts to find what true love-and true commitment-really mean.
Download or read book Chasing Normal written by Donna Barnett and published by . This book was released on 2004 with total page 576 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Chasing the Shadows written by Maria V. Snyder and published by Maria V. Snyder. This book was released on 2019-11-18 with total page 346 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: 2020 PRISM Award Winner! Year 2522. Lyra Daniels is dead. Okay, so I only died for sixty-six seconds. But when I came back to life, I got a brand new name and a snazzy new uniform. Go me! Seriously, though, it's very important that Lyra Daniels stays dead, at least as far as the murdering looters, know. While dying is the scariest thing that's happened to me, it morphed my worming skills. I can manipulate the Q-net like never before. But the looters have blocked us from communicating with the rest of the galaxy and now they believe we've gone silent, like Planet Xinji (where silent really means dead). A Protector Class spaceship is coming to our rescue, but we still have to survive almost two years until they arrive - if they arrive at all. Until then, we have to figure out how to stop an unstoppable alien threat. And it's only a matter of time before the looters learn I'm not dead and returns to finish what they started. There's no way I'm going to let the looters win. Instead I'll do whatever it takes to save the people I love. But even I'm running out of ideas...
Download or read book Chasing Lilacs written by Carla Stewart and published by FaithWords. This book was released on 2010-06-17 with total page 206 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: It is the summer of 1958, and life in the small Texas community of Graham Camp should be simple and carefree. But not for twelve-year-old Sammie Tucker. Sammie has plenty of questions about her mother's "nerve" problems. About shock treatments. About whether her mother loves her. When her mother commits suicide and a not-so-favorite aunt arrives, Sammie has to choose who to trust with her deepest fears: Her best friend who has an opinion about everything, the mysterious kid from California whose own troubles plague him, or her round-faced neighbor with gentle advice and strong shoulders to cry on. Then there's the elderly widower who seems nice but has his own dark past. Trusting is one thing, but accepting the truth may be the hardest thing Sammie has ever done.
Download or read book Absolutely Normal Chaos written by Sharon Creech and published by Harper Collins. This book was released on 2009-10-06 with total page 256 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "By turns sarcastic, tender, and irreverent, this will quickly make its way into the hands of readers who loved Walk Two Moons." —Kirkus This beloved prequel to bestselling author Sharon Creech's Newbery Medal winner Walk Two Moons chronicles the life of a thirteen-year-old during her most chaotic and romantic summer ever via journal entries, filled with hilarious observations on love, death, and the confusing mechanics of holding hands. Mary Lou is less than excited about her assignment to keep a journal over the summer. Boring! Then cousin Carl Ray comes to stay with her family, and what starts out as the dull dog days of summer quickly turns into the wildest roller-coaster ride of all time. Named one of the New York Public Library’s 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing!
Download or read book Chasing Chaos written by Jessica Alexander and published by Crown. This book was released on 2013-10-15 with total page 401 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Jessica Alexander arrived in Rwanda in the aftermath of the 1994 genocide as an idealistic intern, eager to contribute to the work of the international humanitarian aid community. But the world that she encountered in the field was dramatically different than anything she could have imagined. It was messy, chaotic, and difficult—but she was hooked. In this honest and irreverent memoir, she introduces readers to the realities of life as an aid worker. We watch as she manages a 24,000-person camp in Darfur, collects evidence for the Charles Taylor trial in Sierra Leone, and contributes to the massive aid effort to clean up a shattered Haiti. But we also see the alcohol-fueled parties and fleeting romances, the burnouts and self-doubt, and the struggle to do good in places that have long endured suffering. Tracing her personal journey from wide-eyed and naïve newcomer to hardened cynic and, ultimately, to hopeful but critical realist, Alexander transports readers to some of the most troubled locations around the world and shows us not only the seemingly impossible challenges, but also the moments of resilience and recovery.
Download or read book Chasing Slow written by Erin Loechner and published by HarperChristian + ORM. This book was released on 2017-01-10 with total page 297 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Chasing Slow models HGTV star Erin Loechner's journey to help you break out of the faster-better-stronger trap and make small changes to refresh your perspective, renew your priorities, and shift your focus to what matters most. You're here, but you want to be there. So you spend your life narrowing this divide, and you call this your race, your journey, your path. You live your days tightening your boot straps, wiping the sweat from your brow, chasing undiscovered happiness just around the bend. And on and on you run. Viral sensation and HGTV.com star Erin Loechner knows about the chase. Before turning 30, she'd earned the title "The Nicest Girl Online" as she was praised for her authentic voice and effortless style. Her HGTV web show garnered over one million fans worldwide, and her client list includes Walt Disney World, IKEA, Martha Stewart and Home Depot. The New York Times applauded her, her friends and church admired her, and her husband and baby adored her. She had arrived at the ultimate destination. So why did she feel so lost? Through a series of steep climbs--her husband's brain tumor, bankruptcy, family loss, and public criticism--Erin learns just how much strength it takes to surrender it all, and to veer right into grace. In Chasing Slow, Erin upgrades her life through downsizing--her stuff, her obligations, her fears, her personal metric of "perfect." And ultimately, her invitation becomes yours: to turn away from the fast and frenzy, and find freedom in a new-fashioned lifestyle defined by grace. Life's answers are not always hidden where they seem. It's time to venture off the beaten path to see that we’ve already been given everything we need. We've already arrived. You see? You'll see.
